Goshen excited to host 1st marathon

Cindy White is a terrific advertisement for the Hambletonian Marathon & Good Time Trotters Relay. She grew up in Goshen and still lives there, in fact residing less than a quarter-mile from Mile 4.

KEVIN GLEASON

Cindy White is a terrific advertisement for the Hambletonian Marathon & Good Time Trotters Relay. She grew up in Goshen and still lives there, in fact residing less than a quarter-mile from Mile 4.

So, yeah, White is excited about running 26.2 miles in and around Goshen for the inaugural marathon on Oct. 20.

"It's a beautiful town,'' she said. "I think they are getting a lot of first-time marathoners. It should be a real fun event.''

White, 50, started running six years ago as a proving ground for her sports-minded children. She already has run four marathons, all a good drive away, and didn't hesitate to enter the first local marathon in two decades.

"I like the idea of a smaller marathon,'' said White, who of course logs some of her training miles along the course. "I actually think about high school things when I'm out there running.''

White will be joined by about 500 runners from as far as New Zealand, the home of one woman who is in town on business. Race director Kathleen Rifkin expects about 200 individual marathoners and 100 three-person teams for the relay, which gives runners of all endurance levels a chance to take part. Some 245 runners have entered the marathon, but Rifkin figures some of them will switch to the relay.

"That's OK,'' she said. "As long as they can participate. We accommodate everybody.''

Middletown High music teacher Lucas Rau is organizing upwards of a dozen forms of musical entertainment along the course. Music will provide a backdrop for folks such as Peggy Ann McKean, a 42-year-old resident of Neptune, N.J., who requested bib No. 97. The reason? It's her 97th marathon.

Rifkin, of course, has accommodated her.

"We have a lot of local people, but a lot of people within two, three hours,'' Rifkin said. "There are a lot of people really excited that we are having a local marathon.''

A longtime runner, Rifkin has had a wonderful experience directing and helping create the event. She has had great support from organizers, sponsors and local officials and law enforcement agencies. There will be about 200 volunteers.

"I really am enjoying this experience a lot,'' she said. "The help has been amazing.''